Target throwing apparatus



July 16, 1963 c, F E N 3,097,635

TARGET THROWING APPARATUS Filgd Mar ;h 2, 1961 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CARL R. FREEMAN July 16, 1963 c. RAF-REEMAN 3,097,635

TARGET THROWING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL R. FREEMAN United States This invention relates to improvements in target throwing apparatus of the type used for throwing shooting targets or birdies as they are called. These birdies are generally small fragile clay objects of sufficient mass to permit ready throwing of the same.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a target throwing apparatus wherein a continuously rotating member actuates a spring-loaded device which then moves the target at a continually accelerating rate in an arcuate path and wherein the target is free to separate from its pusher and wherein a circular guide retains the target against outward movement under the centrifugal forces generated, the target continuing to accelerate until it reaches the end of the arcuate guide whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spring actuating mechanism that is actuated during the first part of the throwing cycle to which the target is subjected and which then takes over and accelerates the movement of the target until the target attains the necessary speed for projection .and thereafter the spring mechanism spends its energy to bring the throwing mechanism back to its initial position for the throwing of a subsequent target.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a target throwing mechanism that includes a rotary target receiving arm that has a target receiving portion substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the arm, thereby facilitating positioning of a target on the arm. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a target throwing arm of the above-mentioned character wherein the arm goes from its initial position to a downwardly inclined position to facilitate sliding of a target thereon from the initial center position to a position radially outermost on the arm where it is subjected to maximum centrifugal action by the turning of the arm.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type stated having an arm for throwing the birdies, the arm being rotatable approximately 180 degrees to energize a spring which thereafter deenergizes to swing the arm very rapidly for the remaining 180 degrees to hurl the birdie therefrom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type stated wherein the driving mechanism which rotates the arm the first 180 degrees continuously rotates in the same direction as long as the apparatus is in operation so as to rotate the throwing arm the first 180 degrees each time a birdie is loadedthereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type stated in which the arm is rotatable about an inclined axis and the birdie is loaded on the arm at approximately the :axis of rotation, the birdie shifting radial-1y outwardly along the arm and into an engagement with a guide while the arm is being rotated the first 180 degrees by the driving mechanism.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type stated in which the movable arm is automatically loaded with a birdie at the beginning of each cycle of its rotation.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

atent In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a target throwing apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

PKG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof, partly broken away and in section;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 33 and 44, respectively, of 'FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line 5'5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the position of the throwing arm after it has completed its first degrees of rotation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

In the drawing like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

Reference may now be had in more detail to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A designates a target throwing apparatus having a housing 1, including a base 2, side walls 3, 4, a front wall 6, and a hood or top cover 7 having an upwardly and forwardly extending flange 8 Extending transversely between the side walls 3, 4 are spaced cross channels 9, 10 having cross channels 12, 13 mounted thereon and at right angles thereto. Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the channels 12, 13 is an open top inner housing 15 that projects through the front wall 6. The housing 15 comprises side walls 16, 17 and an inclined front wall 18.

Mounted on the inside face of the inclined front wall 18 are spaced, aligned bearings 19, 20 rotatably supporting a shaft 21, that is at an acute angle to the vertical and projects upwardly beyond the top of the inner housing 16. A pushing member comprising a throwing arm 22 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of the shaft 21 and projects radially at substantially right angles thereto. The .arm 22 has a substantially flat bottom plate 23 and upstanding side flanges 24, 25. The side flange 25 extends .to the radially outermost end of the arm 22 and is lined on its surface facing the flange 24 with a layer of rubber 27. Rigidly mounted on the arm 22 is a target receiving and guiding seat 23 which has a base 29 and a U-shaped side 39. The axis of rotation of the shaft 21 passes through the base 29. The base 29 is at an angle to the bottom plate 23. As the arm 22 and the base 29 rotate, the inclination of the base changes. When the base 29 is substantially horizontal, the arm 22 is in its initial or target-loading position, as shown in FIG. 2.

A sprocket wheel 31 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 21 directly below the arm 22. A thrust collar 33 may be rigidly mounted on the shaft 21 to support the sprocket 31 against downward shifting axially along the shaft 21. Adjacent to its outer periphery the sprocket wheel 31 has an upstanding pin 34 which is adapted to engage the side flange 25 and rotate the arm 22, for purposes presently morefully appearing. The sprocket wheel 31 is driven by a roller chain 35, which is, in turn, driven by a smaller diameter sprocket wheel 36 mounted on a drive shaft 37 of a motor-transmission assembly 38, that is suitably mounted within the inner housing 16. As best seen in FIG. 2, the plane of the sprocket wheels 31--36 is substantially at right angles to the axis of the shaft 21, and the sprocket wheel 31 and the arm 22 are both adapted to project through an opening 39 at the upper end of the front wall 6.

A crank 41 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 21 adjacent to its lower end. This crank 41 receives a pivot pin 42 radially outwardly of the axis of the shaft 21, and the pivot pin 42 secures one end of a coil spring 43. The other end of the coil spring 43 hooks into an eye-bolt 44 which projects through an angle member 45, rigidly 3 mounted in the inner housing 16 and extending between the side walls 17, 18 thereof. Adjusting nuts 48, 49 are threaded onto the eye-bolt 44 to adjust the initial tension on the spring 43. A slot 50 is formed in the inclined front wall 18 through which the crank 41 may project as the shaft 21 rotates.

Rigidly mounted on the side wall 17 are upwardly extending bars 51, 52 on the upper ends of which are mounted bars 52, 53, which support a circular guide 55, the center of which is the axis of the shaft 21. The guide 55 extends through an arc of somewhat more than 90 degrees beginning approximately 90 degrees past the position of the throwing arm 22 shown in FIG. 5.

When the arm 22 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and and is not rotating, a target or birdie b may be placed upon the seat 28. The sprocket wheel 31 is rotated counterclockwise (FIG. 5) until the pin 34 engages or abuts the side flange 25 on the arm 22. Until this engagement takes place, the throwing arm 22 is not moved. Continued rotation of the sprocket wheel 31 causes the pin 31 to drive the throwing arm 22, which, in turn, will rotate the shaft 21 and the crank 41, which progressively increases the tension on the spring 43. As the arm rotates approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise from its position shown in FIG. 5, it will become horizontal, and upon further rotation will become downwardly inclined from the horizontal. When this occurs, the birdie b will shift downwardly from the seat 28 and roll along the rubber strip 27 until the birdie b abuts the guide 55, along which it slides as the throwing arm 22 continues to rotate and is driven therealong by the throwing arm 22. When the throwing arm 22 has been rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6, the spring 43 and the crank arm 41 are in their position of toggle, and the spring is in its maximum tension. Continued rotation of the shaft 21 by the arm 22 brings the connection point of the spring 43 with the crank arm 41 past its toggle position, the pivot pin 42 being then to the left of an imaginary line between the axis of the shaft 21 (viewed from FIG. 6), and the fixed end of the spring. When this happens, the spring 43 Will snap and throw the arm 22 sharply counterclockwise back to its initial position shown in FIG. 5. During this latter movement of the throwing arm 22, the birdie b will be hurled therefrom and through the opening 39 in the front wall 6. The throwing arm 22 comes to rest in the position shown in FIG. 5. Meanwhile, the sprocket wheel 31 continues to rotate until the pin 34 again engages the arm flange 25 for a repetition of the cycle. During the interval of time it takes for the pin to again engage the arm flange 25, another birdie or target b may be placed onto the seat 28 manually or automatically by a loading mechanism M, and the cycle is then repeated.

The loading mechanism M comprises a circular, rotatable magazine 59, which lies directly above the cover 7, and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, circular holes 60, each of which is adapted to receive a birdie b. The birdies rest on the upper surface of the cover 7. The magazine 59 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of a shaft 61 that extends downwardly through the cover 7 and is rotatable in vertically spaced bearings 63, 64. The bearings 63, 64 are mounted on angle members 66, 67 which extend across the back side of the inner housing 15. Stop collars 68, 69 are mounted on the shaft 61 adjacent to bearings 63, 64 to retain the shaft 61 against axial movement. A disk 71 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 61. The disk 71 has a plurality of circumferentially uniformly spaced depending pins 72, and radially inwardly of each pin a hole 73, there being one pin 72 and hole 73 for each hole 60.

As seen by reference to FIG. 7, the inner housing 15 has a bracket 74 having a pivot pin 76 for rockably supporting a lever 77 which extends between the throwing arm 22 and drive sprocket wheel 31. The lever 77 is biased against a stop 78 by a tension spring 79, the latter being attached at its ends to the lever 77 and housing 15, respectively. At one end of the lever 77 is another pivot pin 80 for pivotally supporting an actuator bar 32, which projects toward the disk 71. A tension spring 83 is secured to the lever 7? and bar 82 to bias the latter into engagement with a stop 84 on the housing 15.

A bracket 85 (FIGS. 2 and 7) secured on the angle member 66 has an upstanding ear 87 which, through a pivot pin 89, rockably supports a latch 90. The latch 90 has one end overlying the disk 71 and includes a lock pin 91 that enters the holes 73 successively. The latch 90 is biased clockwise by a spring 93. The other end of the latch 90 is on the underside of the sprocket wheel 31 for periodic actuation by an arcuate cam 94 thereon. During each revolution of the sprocket wheel 31, after the throwing arm 22 has been actuated by the spring 43, the cam 94 will engage the latch 90 and lift the lock pin 91 out of locking engagement in the hole 73. Thereafter, the pin 34 engages the lever 77, shifting it to the broken line position, FIG. 7. This, in turn, causes the actuator bar 32 to push against the adjacent pin 72, as shown in broken lines, FIG. 7, thereby advancing the disk 71 one step. The disk 71 is rotated until the next hole 73 moves into alignment with the lock pin 91. The turning of the magazine one notch brings its nextvhole 60 in overlying relation to an opening 95 in the cover 7, which opening 96 is directly above the seat 28. Therefore, the birdie will drop through the opening 96 and onto the seat 28.

Before the lock pin 91 becomes in alignment with the next hole 73, the trailing end 95 of the cam 94 has passed the latch 90 so that the lock pin 91 is then in contact with the upper surface of the disk 71. When said next hole 73 moves into alignment with the lock pin 91, the latter will snap thereinto and lock the disk 71 and the magazine 59 in position. Continued rotation of the sprocket wheel 31 and corresponding movement of the pin 34 causes the pin to reeede from the lever 77 which is then returned to the full line position of FIG. 7 by the spring 79 preparatory to its next step-by-step actuating movement of the disk 71. Continued turning of the sprocket wheel 31 will again cause the mechanism to repeat its cycle of operations, as previously described.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What is considered new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force, said apparatus comprising an arcuate target guide, first means for pushing a target by a continuous movement from a position radially inwardly of the guide to a position along the guide and then continuing the movement uninterruptedly along the guide in an arcuate direction determined by the guide whereby the target is forced against the guide by centrifugal force, second means effective in response to the first means having pushed the target to a predetermined position for then continuing the pushing with increasing velocity of said target pushing means through a cycle of movement, said second means including a spring actuated by the movement of the first means in the first portion of its cycle of movement, and means controlled by the spring for then moving the first means at an accelerating rate, said target guide coacting with said target pushing means for guiding the target during said first portion of its cycle of movement and having a terminus beyond which the first means pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

2. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said apparatus comprising a rotary target pusher, an arcuate target guide centered substantially on the axis of rotation of the target pusher, means for positioning a target in the path of movement of the pusher and adjacent to the center of the arcuate guide, means for rotating said target pusher through a cycle of continuous movement, said last means including a continuously rotatable pushing member in abutment with the target pusher for moving it through the first portion of its cycle of movement into engagement with a target for moving the target in an arcuate direction and radially outwardly to the arcuate guide and continuing the movement uninterruptedly along the guide, a spring actuated by the movement of the pushing member in the first portion of its cycle of movement, and means controlled by the spring for then moving the target pusher at an accelerating rate, said target guide cooperating with the target pusher for guiding the target during said first portion of its cycle of movement at which time the target is forced against said guide by centrifugal forceqand is pushed therealong by said target pusher, said guide also having a terminus beyond which the target pusher pushes the target where upon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

3. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said apparatus comprising a rotary target pusher, an arcuate target guide centered substantial-1y on the axis of rotation of the target pusher, a target receiving member located radially inwardly of the arcuate guide, means connecting the member for movement with the pusher from a target receiving position to an inclined delivery position from which a target moves by gravity into a position in the path of movement of the pusher and radially inwardly of the guide, means for rotating said target pusher through a cycle of movement, said means including a crank connected with said target pusher and rotatable thereby through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the target pusher, and a loading spring connected at one end to the crank and at its opposite end to a fixed point and passing through a toggle position with respect to the crank twice during each revolution of the crank, the first toggle position being the position of minimum spring stress and the second being the position of maximum spring stress, said crank storing energy in the spring as the crank moves from the first to the second toggle positions, said spring resisting turning of the target pusher during movement of the crank from its first to its second toggle position and changing the direction of its force on said target pusher when the crank passes its second toggle position in its cycle of movement whereby the spring then accelerates the movement of the target pusher, said target guide cooperating with the target pusher for guiding the target during said first portion of its cycle of movement at which time the target is forced against said guide by centrifugal force and is pushed therealong by said target pusher, said guide also having a terminus beyond which the target pusher pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

4. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said apparatus comprising a throwing arm having a target receiving portion and 1a throwing end, said arm being mounted for rotation, the axis of rotation passing through the target receiving portion of the arm to facilitate loading the arm with a target to be projected, the throwing end of the arm being at the end thereof remote from the axis of rotation whereby a target on said arm is subjected to its centrifugal fiorce when the target is at the throwing end of the rotating arm, means operated responsive to initiation of rotation of the throwing arm for causing movement of a target radially outwardly from the target receiving portion to an off center position where it is moved by the arm and becomes subject to centrifugal action, a circular guide centered substantially on the axis of rotation of the arm and located in the path of radially outward movement of a target on the arm to limit such radial outward movement whereby the target is forced against said guide by centrifugal force and slides along the guide as the throwing arm is rotated, means for swinging said arm through a cycle of movement, said means comprising a continuously rotating pushing member abutting against the arm and from which the arm is free to move in the direct-ion of movement of said member, a crank connected with said arm and rotatable thereby through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the arm, a spring being connected at one end to the crank and at its opposite end to a fixed point and passing through a toggle position with respect to the crank twice during each revolution of the crank, the first toggle position being the position of minimum spring stress and the second being the position of mm'mum spring stress, said crank storing energy in the spring as the crank moves from the first to the second toggle positions, said spring resisting turning of the throwing arm during movement of the crank from its first to its second toggle position and changing the direction of its force on said arm when the crank passes its second toggle position in its cycle of movement whereby the spring then accelerates the movement of the arm, said target guide having a terminus beyond which the throwing arm pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

5. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said apparatus comprising a throwing arm having a throwing end, said arm being mounted for rotation, the arm having a target receiving portion, the axis of rotation passing through the target receiving portion of the arm to facilitate loading the arm with a target to be projected, said arm being mounted with respect to its axis of rotation to rotate through a position sloping downwardly from said target receiving portion to the throwing end of the throwing arm, whereby a target placed on said portion can slide radially along said arm to the throwing end, the throwing end of the arm being at the end thereof remote from the axis of rotation whereby a target on said arm is subjected to its maximum centrifugal force when the target is at the throwing end of the rotating arm, a circular guide centered substantially on the axis of rotation of the arm and located in the path of radially outward movement of a target on the arm to limit such radial outward movement whereby by a continuous contact with the throwing arm the target is first forced against said guide by centrifugal force and is then urged by the throwing arm along the guide as the throwing arm is rotated, said target guide having a terminus beyond which the throwing arm pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

6. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said apparatus comprising a throwing arm having a throwing end, said arm being mounted for rotation, the arm having a target receiving portion, the axis of rotation passing through the target receiving portion of the arm to facilitate loading the arm with a target to be projected, said arm being mounted with respect to its axis of rotation to rotate through a position sloping downwardly from said target receiving portion to the throwing end of the throwing arm, whereby a target placed on said portion can slide radially along said arm to the throwing end, the throwing end of the arm being at the end thereof remote from the axis of rotation whereby a target on said arm is subjected to its maximum centrifugal force when the target is at the throwing end of the rotating arm, a circular guide centered substantially on the axis of rotation of the arm and located in the path of radially outward movement of a target on the arm to limit such radial outward movement whereby by a continuous contact with the throwing arm the target is first forced against said guide by centrifugal force and is then urged by the throwing arm along the guide as the throwing arm is rotated, means for swinging said arm through a cycle of movement, said means comprising a continuously rotating pushing member abutting against the arm and from which the arm is free to move in the direction of movement of said member, a crank connected with said arm and rotatable thereby through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the arm, a spring connected at one end to the crank and at its opposite end to a fixed point and passing through a toggle position with respect to the crank twice during each revolution of the crank, the first toggle position being the position of minimum spring stress and the second being the position of maximum spring stress, said crank storing energy in the spring as the crank moves from the first to the second toggle positions, said spring resisting turning of the throwing arm during movement of the crank from its first to its second toggle position and changing the direction of its force on said arm when the crank passes its second toggle position in its cycle of movement whereby the spring then accelerates the movement of the arm, said target guide having a terminus beyond which the throwing arm pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon.

7. Target throwing apparatus for projecting a target outwardly by centrifugal force acting thereon, said rapparatus comprising a throwing arm having a throwing end, said arm being mounted for rotation, the arm having a target receiving portion, the axis of rotation passing through the target receiving portion of the arm to facilitate loading the arm with a target to be projected, said ar-m being mounted with respect to its axis of rotation to rotate through a position sloping downwardly from said target receiving portion to the throwing end of the throwing arm, whereby a target placed on said portion can slide radially along said arm to the throwing end, the throwing end of the arm being at the end thereof remote from the axis of rotation whereby a target on said arm is subjected to its maximum centrifugal force when the target is at the throwing end of the rotating arm, a circular guide centered substantially on the axis of rotation of the arm and located in the path of radially outward movement of a target on the arm to limit such radial outward movement whereby by a continuous contact with the throwing arm the target is first forced against said guide by centrifugal force and is then urged by the throwing arm along the guide as the throwing arm is rotated, means for swinging said arm through a cycle of movement, said means comprising a continuously rotating pushing member abutting against the arm and from which the arm is free to move in the direction of movement of said member, a crank connected with said arm and rotatable thereby through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the arm, a spring connected at one end to the crank and at its opposite end to a fixed point and passing through a toggle position with respect to the crank twice during each revolution of the crank, the first toggle position being the position of minimum spring stress and the second being the position of maximum spring stress, said crank storing energy in the spring as the crank moves from the first to the second toggle positions, said spring resisting turning of the throwing arm during movement of the crank from its first to its second toggle position and changing the direction of its force on said arm when the crank passes its second toggle position in its cycle of movement whereby the spring then accelerates the movement of the arm, said target guide having a terminus beyond which the throwing arm pushes the target whereupon the target is projected outwardly by the centrifugal force acting thereon, and means for placing a target on the target receiving portion of the arm when the crank is in its first toggle position.

8. Target throwing apparatus comprising arcuate target guide means, rotatable target throwing means rotatable about the center of the guide means, a target receiving member located radially inwardly of the guide means, means responsive to the rotation of the throwing means for causing movement of the target from the receiving member into the path of movement of the throwing means at a location radially inwardly of the guide means, whereby it is moved by the throwing means by a continuous uninterrupted movement first radially outwardly toward the guide means and then along the guide means, first means rotatable substantially at one speed for turning said target throwing means at said one speed a fraction of a revolution and cooperating with the target guide means to shift a target along said guide means for said fraction of a revolution, and second means operable independently of said first means for turning said target throwing means through the remainder of said revolution at a speed greater than said one speed to shift the target off of said guide means and then discharge the target from said target-throwing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,318 Jenkins June 4, 1895 1,475,713 Napier i Nov. 27, 1923 2,171,623 Connell Sept. 5, 1939 2,660,157 B inks Nov. 24, 1953 2,996,058 Ervine Aug. 15, 1961 

1. TARGET THROWING APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING A TARGET OUTWARDLY BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ARCUATE TARGET GUIDE, FIRST MEANS FOR PUSHING A TARGET BY A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION RADIALLY INWARDLY OF THE GUIDE TO A POSITION ALONG THE GUIDE AND THEN CONTINUING THE MOVEMENT UNINTERRUPTEDLY ALONG THE GUIDE IN AN ARCUATE DIRECTION DETERMINED BY THE GUIDE WHEREBY THE TARGET IS FORCED AGAINST THE GUIDE BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, SECOND MEANS EFFECTIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST MEANS HAVING PUSHED THE TARGET TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION FOR THEN CONTINUING THE PUSHING WITH INCREASING VELOCITY OF SAID TARGET PUSHING MEANS THROUGH A CYCLE OF MOVEMENT, SAID SECOND MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING ACTUATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST MEANS IN THE FIRST PORTION OF ITS CYCLE OF MOVEMENT, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE SPRING FOR THEN MOVING THE FIRST MEANS AT AN ACCELARATING RATE, SAID TARGET GUIDE COATING WITH SAID TARGET PUSHING MEANS FOR GUIDING THE TARGET DURING SAID FIRST PORTION OF ITS CYCLE OF MOVEMENT AND HAVING A TERMINUS BEYOND WHICH THE FIRST MEANS PUSHES THE TARGET WHEREUPON THE TARGET IS PROJECTED OUTWARDLY BY THE CONTRIFUGAL FORCE ACTING THEREON. 